Here Today... Gone To Hell!

In the survey of people in 23 countries across the globe, a majority or plurality in 20 described France as exerting a positive influence on world affairs. The US, by comparison, is seen as having a negative impact by majorities in 15 countries.

"France is seen as a countervoice to the US," says Steven Kull, director of PIPA. "It becomes a rallying point for all those who don't want to follow America's lead."

Certainly, Paris appeals in part precisely because it is not Washington. But it goes beyond that. From the streets of Shanghai to Berlin, Monitor interviews found that the French flair for the finer things in life has a special cachet.

French movies are admired worldwide for their subtlety and depth; French fashion houses dress the rich and powerful worldwide; and the lure of French art and cuisine fascinated foreigners long before Paris stood up to Washington politically.

"We [Germans] look on with wonder at France's cultural influence in the world," says Henrik Utterwede, deputy director of the German-French Institute in Ludwigsburg. "And we are a bit jealous of it, as well."

On top of that, says former French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine, France is so admired because "many people think France is a country that tries to correct the imbalances of today's world, such as the excessive power of the United States."

Or, put another way, "The French willingness to stand up and be a rooster, to take a stand and get up someone's nose, is a big strength," says Doug Miller, head of GlobeScan, the international polling firm that carried out the survey with the University of Maryland's PIPA.

France's global popularity - except in America, the only country where a majority of respondents called French influence negative - "is really a question of image," cautions Alain Frachon, editor of "Le Monde 2," a weekly magazine. "France does not weigh very heavily in international affairs," he argues, "and it does not set a very great example" as a major arms exporter, a not especially generous donor to developing nations, and a defender of outmoded economic policies.

Most people, however, "do not follow foreign policy very closely, and these things come down to a few images and symbols," points out Mr. Vedrine.

The most symbolic recent moment came in the buildup to the Iraq war, which France vehemently and vocally opposed. "The very, very strong position that France took on the side of global public opinion explains the figures" in the poll, says Mr. Miller.

"France was speaking for the world; [French president Jacques] Chirac stood up and that's what leadership is," Miller adds.

The symbolism had practical effects, suggests Mr. Utterwede. For years, Germany resisted French efforts to enlist it as a counterweight to Washington. But some of France's fierce individuality has rubbed off on Berlin, says Utterwede. "There is this idea of friendship [with Washington], yes; obedience, no. There is a sense of emancipation in German foreign policy that can almost be considered 'Francophonization.' "

France's stand had effects on the other side of the Atlantic, too, where Americans expressed their anger or their disappointment by ordering "Freedom Fries." It became cool to dislike the French (52 percent of Americans believe French international influence is negative), especially because many felt the French owed America gratitude for liberating them from the Nazis and then defending them against the Soviets.

"France has become popular merely by defining itself in opposition to the United States under the Bush administration," critiques Jacquelyn K. Davis, executive vice president of the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis in Washington. "The French are attempting to jealously guard their remaining power and influence by criticizing and tearing down US policies."

Not that such perceived disloyalty is new. "France has been cultivating its discordant voice since [former French president Charles] de Gaulle argued that we did not have to line up behind one or other of the superpowers," recalls Mr. Frachon.

As the first Western nation to recognize Communist China, France won a special place in Chinese hearts (72 percent of Chinese respondents saw French influence as positive).

Beijing also warms to French policies, such as its failed crusade earlier this year to end a 16-year-old EU ban on arms sales to China, and its support for China's push to unify with Taiwan.

For ordinary Chinese, however, the Parisian pull appears to be more cultural. "Well-educated people in Beijing like French films more than American films now," says Wang Qing, a specialist in French cultural exchanges for the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. "In French films we can see something more sophisticated."

Asked why the Chinese liked France, Wang Li, a woman in Shanghai, replied simply, "The French have money and good culture."

That impression has no doubt been boosted by the "French Culture Year" that recently featured more than 300 art, dance, and musical events around China. But that's small potatoes compared to the 60 years of French efforts to promote their relationship with neighboring Germany after fighting three wars in 70 years.

Those efforts have paid off. The hundreds of thousands of community, school, business, and cultural partnerships that have sprung up on both sides of the Rhine since the end of World War II have helped convince 77 percent of Germans that France plays a positive role in the world, according to the PIPA study.

German respect for French culture is deep. "They have a special feeling for design and art that makes them highly influential in the world," says Anete Bajrami, a newly qualified architect.

More....

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0930/p01s04-woeu.html

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Very interesting but I guess it won't last long if words aren't not followed by acts ... I'm thinking about changes at the UN level ...

And about french films .... come on it really depends on the films ... We do like the idea that we have our cinema but we also have to acknoledge that french films tends to be actually very boring when not directed by Besson or Jeunet...  ::) ;D

because people are stupid
besson and jeunet ? are you kidding me ? they're the worst.

French films were good in the 60's. ;D

French films are a fuckin shame. I don't think Rain is talkin about 60's movies, Bessam. She's probably talking about all the shit that's been in theaters since the 80's. Fuckin crap like L'Anniversaire, Mauvaise Passe, Peindre ou Faire L'Amour, etc. Jeunet rules! ;D

Anyway, talkin about the thread...on HTGTH, I'm pretty sure France's role is not audience favorite...lol

Of course I wasn't talking about the "nouvelle vague" ... Peindre ou faire l'amour, my mother quite fell asleep last week !  ;D

For the record, I did not vote in that India poll.  :P

I love the way the Americans pronouce some french actor's name....like..."Gerard Depardiou" :hihi:
BTW, Pierre Richard is one of the most funny french actor ever. You just see him, and without doing nothing, you laugh. he is the french Leslie Nielsen for me. he is "Mr Catastroph" but in a funny and sympathic way. I admire those kind of actors.

come on, we all know you looove dieudon? ;)
- man i know he is out of bounds sometimes, but HE is a genius comdian, people focused on his "d?rapage" but if they watched one of his show - le divorce de patrick - they'll die laughing -

:)

i'm off to the US tomorow morning !! yay !!!

Dieudonne deserves a bullet in his head. he is a fucking racist and If I were Sarkozy I would put him in a charter and send him is Kaboul or Gaza, Dieudonne seems to admire the islamists, the man said he supported Ben-laden and you try to give him credits on this board? let's send him in places he would feel good with his friend the fucking communist mega-beauf jose bov?. This face of France is a shame. This is the racist France here. That's not the France everybody loves. This face is a reminiscence of petain mix with a modern islamism and anti-mondialism touch. Bessam, you're probably a nice guy, but there are things that don't make me laugh, especially racism and antisemitism...capichi?

France...is that in Paris?

Right between Houston and Dallas.

We can always count on SLCPUNK for starting threads putting down America.

Who gives a shit about a popularity contest?

Exactly! and What the hell has France done in the past 100 years that benefited the world?  Create the treaty of Versailles that created the environment for Nazi Germany?  Leave Vietnam to create the fiasco that America ended up dealing with.  I don't see how they can consider a country that does absolutely nothing but look down at the rest of the world and other cultures as a leader.

ahahah
some people start on very quick :)
so you don't give shit about popularity contests and you go off like a match ? :)

come on
americans are fat, have no style, consume like sheep and praise Super Companies that rule the world.
you fear communism but dont see that your system profits to ONE single company. that's another form of communism.
everybody eats at mcdonals, everybody wears aber crombie and ftich (that reminds me, i gotta buy some) and everybody watch spielberg :)
you buy our classy brands and wear them the wrong way
you use a french word every single phrase but don't even know what it means
ahahah :=)

Ps: the last lines were a joke :)

It is in Mississippi.....

My point was what has France done to merit it's respected position as a world leader?  Everyone can point out the many mistakes America has made, but what can you expect when you live in a fish bowl.  America is the greatest country in the world both economically and militarily.  It doesn't suprise me that many nations resent the fact that America is on top.  I don't hate France, but what ACTIONS has France taken to merit the results from this poll?

P.S. because you end comments are a "joke" I won't reply to how incorrect they are.  Although if I had a choice between being known for eating McDonalds or using my city as a public urinal I'd choose McDonalds --- Just Joking  :hihi:

drone drone yawn yawn who put this old record on?

yeah fights between countries are stupid. it's not because you're american that you represent the power of your country.

just like being brazilian does not make you good at soccer.

(and to finish the jokes stuff, the joke about french are fake and based on old rivalry - smelly, public urinal ... - while the *jokes* about americans have a lot of truth. you're society is rotten, it's not my fault - all the great american artists and comedian are great because they point that out :) )

Two words: French Revolution

Another Two Words: Napoleon Bonaparte

Can someone explain this to me ....

There are over 190 countries in the world! Why were those particular 23 chosen for this survey?

They all won the preliminary popularity contest to be included in the final round.

The whole thing is pointless.

I don't think it is pointless.  However, it has to be taken for what it is.  World opinion is against the US; there is propoganda in almost everyone of these countries that is anti-american, just like there is rhetoric in the U.S. that is anti-french.  Furthermore, the U.S. takes the lead on many things in international affairs and is involved in almost every conflict that occurs in the world.  A lot of the times the U.S. has a positive effect and helps countries change for the better or helps protect those that need protecting.  Other times the U.S. screws up.  Sadly, screw ups are the only thing the U.S. usually gets credit for.  I understand the views on Iraq and the effect it has had on U.S. reputation, but considering some of the theories and conspiracy theories about the U.S.'s intentions for entering the war, much of it is unwarranted.

SLC, I'm not sure it was a good idea to post that here. As a French person, I really don't care if the rest of the world likes my country or not. Most of them don't live here (;D) and don't know shit about it. I know our flaws and good points, but when you post that kind of thread here, it's just a good ground for anti-French comments, just look at what happened after a couple of French people posted in that thread. Conservatives here on HTGTH just hate our country, our people and everything we stand for, just as much as narrow minded, US-hating French fucks hate everything America stands for. We're always being reminded of that rivalry on that board. Narrow minded people should rot in hell.

General advice: Travel. Live in a foreign country. For more than a few months. Open your fuckin mind. Then come back. Ya'll have a different point of view.

narrow minded people usually cause the most trouble.

The overly religious fit into this category as well. ( Pat Robertson, Osama Bin Laden etc)

The anti-French comments come out of their keyboard at least once a week anyway. What is the difference? I could post a study about french fries and get the same reaction as we are seeing in this thread...............

I haven't noticed any anti-french comments.  Just questions pertaining to the validity of this study and my own asking what has france done to merit this position - something noone has yet to answer.  I'm sure France is a great country, but what has its government done to warrant the position this supposed study has concluded?

Read the article, it says why people felt the way they did.

You haven't noticed any anti french comments on this board? haha, yea right.

Are you the one that asked that question two weeks ago ? But hey it's even better now WW2 is because of us and your fiasco in Vietnam too  ::) ! By the way at the time the french told you not to go but as usual youpie hey  :-X

Not following you into the Iraq war and standing strong on its postion at the UN ? Just a guess ...

Wasn't Vietnam France's mess before the US got involved?

I heard French people were responsible too for Eve eating the apple or something.

technically the mess was a result of Japan's involvement in Vietnam during WW2...Vietnam was a colony of France for many decades before WW2 and France's attempt to recolonialise it failed...i dont think France was using agent orange do you?

 :o  You're kidding me?  I could have sworn that someone blamed that on the US already!

Actually it was Bush's fault.  :hihi:

I hate to say it but it will take a terrorist attack in France for them to lift a finger on the war on terror.

Didn't work for New Yorkers...

Most NYers did NOT vote for Bush, and they took the hit on 9-11.

They understood that Bush's "war" was not going to fight terror at all.

I'm sure France would "lift a finger" once a real war on terror begins, if ever.

Indochine was .... and if you needs dates here we go : Indochine war : 1946-54 ... Vietnam war : really began in 64 and Paris Peace accords were held in 1973 ... How come it's our fault you got there ?  ::)

This is where I get confussed.  Here in Australia we HEAR alot of "anti-bush" but no-one is really involved.  My dad thinks hes quiet ok, as long as he running the US ok?  But I am confussed because Im not sure about whats happening over here.  We only hear what Australia talks about?  ???

(Jesus that's the second time in one week - sorry moderators )- You are a moron - you just wish a terrorist attack to make your point ? That's nice ?: ok:

By the way we already have terrorist attacks ... decades before 911 so guess what ? we do what we can on war on terror :
http://www.theage.com.au/news/war-on-terror/9-held-as-paris-raids-foil-metro-attack/2005/09/28/1127804547817.html
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=2004072005

Never said it was your fault, just asking a question.

Yeah, but DAMN did it taste good when they were done with it...

:)

India better like us.  We give them enough of our IT jobs.    ;)

Add a stick of butter to anything it's gonna taste good.... :hihi:

Yea but we (the US) have GNR and France doesn't.   :P  And that is something everyone here can relate to.  Wait a minute, there is no GNR...my bad.

This discussion is pointless.  Who cares about popularity....I'd rather have influence, which is soemthing the richest countries will always have.  Look at it this way, if you are rich you always get a date.   :hihi:

France stood up to the US leading up to the war (can anyone say oil for food scandal), and look what influence they actual weilded.  None.  They bunked up a UN vote and it didn't really matter one bit. 

I agree with France's decision to stay out of the war.  But they looked like an old whore who had lost her looks doing it.


Metaphors people...metaphors.

To be fair.  I am much more concerned about how China and India (next 2 superpowers) view us than France or Germany.

Personally I'd rather be right.

France was right.

Besides even the USA was on the take in the oil for food scandal. Hypocrites as usual, just like the people who support our lying government now.

France did not like the US going into Iraq since Saddam was a good trading partner of theirs, so they got pissed at us.

 

Somebody has been watching O'Reilly again....

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You can deny it all you want SLC and you can even try to avoid the issue by pointing fingers.? France, Germany and Russia were the big 3 behind the oil for food scandal.? France has made it a point to oppose any and all US ideas for quite some time now.? I believe Rumsfield put it best when he called France and Germany "Old Europe." Someone doesn't want to go quietly in to the night; France's position as a world leader ended some time ago.? I ask for the third time, what ACTIONS has France taken to earn this position that this scientific poll has given it?

The whole title of this thread is funny to me. "On World Stage, france's role is audience favorite".? France isn't even on the damn stage.? France is more like a bourgouise/elitist commentator that attacks every move the actors make.? I've said it before and I'll say it again - I was against the war from day one, so don't label me some right wing ideologue blinded by neo-con agenda.? However, while france was making big bucks helping Sadam delaying a thorough search for WMDs (by the way SLC, are you stating that because we've found every component of WMDs in Iraq, just not the complied weapons that the case for WMDs is invalid) the US took legal action through UN resolutions.? If Bush stated that the sky was Blue, France would call him a cowboy and wait 10 years for UN inspectors to validate it.

France was/is a great country, but its influence on the global community is fading.? France's only hope is to merge into a larger EU Nation which to the best of my knowledge isn't gonna happen anytime soon.? Once Germany fully rebuilds Eastern germany, they're gonna toss the EU yolk and work on reestablishing its own global authority.? When that happens, you can kiss any hopes of a EU nation good-bye.

Oh they were huh?

Don't forget the USA, they were on the take too.......

Opting to look the other way while  Turkey and Jordan benefited from the majority of the smuggled oil, since they were allies of ours.

The The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (currently chaired by Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN)) said this:

"The United States (government) was not only aware of Iraqi oil sales which violated UN sanctions and provided the bulk of the illicit money Saddam Hussein obtained from circumventing UN sanctions. On occasion, the United States actually facilitated the illicit oil sales."

Their report went on to say that "United States accounted for 52% of all oil-voucher kickbacks paid to Saddam Hussein. The largest of these recipients, Houston based Bayoil and its CEO, Bay Chalmers have been indicted by the US Department of Justice for their actions."

So give it a rest about France already and quit watching so much O'reilly.

Yeah right and that's the reason why Miterrand sent thousands of soldiers down there in the early nineties !  ::) :P
And the world is so black and white with you guys ! That's pretty amazing ...
It's becoming ridiculous, I'm here defending my government and at the time yesterday as the general strike was taking place I was and still am so anti-this-government. I don't know how you make me take so radical stands.
France has its share of stains too - torture in Algeria - multi things in Africa - the difference is that you won't see french people defending our soldiers or french pride when talking about these shits...

Wow, I don't know but I have the feeling to keep on reading the same post for weeks now ... I'm happy to read that France was and still is a great country ...
And better of all is your forsight for EU !  :rofl: You came with it all alone ? Germany already is the most important country economically in the EU ! They are the one taking the most avantages of it.  ::) And by the way the people in most european countries are pro-european and sorry to say that but that counts ! The people are the reason German and french troops stayed at home !

Ah:

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